principatus Latin · revision 31009

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=la prīmus, la capiō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [priːŋ.kɪˈpaː.tʊs], [prɪŋ.kɪˈpaː.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [prin̠ʲ.t͡ʃiˈpaː.tus], [prin̠ʲ.t͡ʃiˈpaː.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''prīncipātus''' ''m'' (genitive prīncipātūs); fourth declension^(OLD 2012)

+ A neuter ''prīncipātum'' also occurs.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[m|la|prīnceps|t=first, chief]] with the suffix [[m|la|-ātus]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) ⟨Prīnceps⟩ is formed from [[m|la|prīmus|t=first]] and ⟨-ceps⟩, from [[m|la|capiō|t=to take]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler gives Cicero as its first author.^(Köbler 2010) In the ''Philippics'' Cicero says someone had given Antony the leadership of his bandits.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is first place, leadership, pre-eminence, and then supremacy in the state: Cicero speaks of giving Cassius domination and the first place.^(OLD 2012) Under the empire it is the position of the Roman ''prīnceps'', the system of the principate (Tacitus: Nerva joined the principate and liberty), the reign of one emperor, and the imperial government (Pliny the Younger).^(OLD 2012) In philosophy Cicero uses it for the Greek [[m|grc|ἡγεμονικόν|tr=hēgemonikón|t=ruling part]], the governing part of a nature, as the mind in man, and once for a beginning in time.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “public office, rule, dominion, sovereignty”.^(Stelten 1995) In Medieval Latin it is rule, imperial or royal rule, and an empire.^(Niermeyer 1976) Wiktionary gives Late Latin “sovereignty, principality”.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of leadership, supremacy and the ruling part of the soul.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus of the principate.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # First place, leadership, [[m|en|pre-eminence]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Supremacy in the state; the [[m|en|principate]]; the reign of an emperor; the imperial government.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(philosophy)'' The governing part, ruling principle.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A beginning.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Late and Medieval Latin)'' Rule, [[m|en|sovereignty]]; a [[m|en|principality]], an empire.^(Wiktionary)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[prīnceps]]

+ * [[prīncipium]]

+ * [[prīncipālis]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}